First Lady watches play on Rwandan history
Carte d’Identité uses humour and personal memory to explore family displacement and exile.
First Lady Mrs Jeannette Kagame attended a play titled Carte d’Identité at the Kigali Convention Centre on Saturday evening. The performance, written and performed by artist Diogène Ntarindwa, known as Atome, revisits difficult chapters of Rwanda’s history.
The play centres on the experiences of Atome’s father, Philippe Niwemuto, detailing his exile and search for identity. Ntarindwa portrays multiple characters, employing humour to convey stories of loss and displacement across Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Carte d’Identité begins with earlier Rwandan history before focusing on Ntarindwa’s family experiences. Atome shared his father's advice to identify as Rwandan above all else, shaping the narrative's exploration of national identity.
Why it mattersRwandan citizens, particularly the youth, can learn about their country's challenging past through a relatable artistic performance.